Feeler mechanism for looms



1111112.11930.` .H ADAVIS 1,761,618

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LooMs' Filed May 14, 1929 A TTC/PNE Patented .linie 3,193@

p HARRY A.. nAvis,` or Ii-i'ornnlinn, ifrnssnonnsnmrs, Assieiion ro Dineren CORPORA- rroii, on i-iornnnnn, Mnsseonusnrrs, A consonancia or. MMM:

' rnELEniirnoi-ieiiisia For. Looivrs .Application filed May 14, 1929. Serial No.' 362,920.

mechanisms of the side slipping type, whereby the operative condition of the loom is I; changed from time to time.

Much thought and inventive ingenuity have been exercised in attempts to secure a feeler mechanism sufficiently sensitive both to the presence and absence or substantial absence of filling in the shuttle to prevent eX- cessive waste on the one hand and imperfect cloth on the other. u i r ln feeler mechanisms of the side slipping type where the feeler is subjected to the action l of spring means for moving it to feelingfposition, there are two main factors which contribute largely in the sensitiveness ofthe Y feeler o eration. When aworking supply 'of' filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat, the lling engaging end yof the feeler, usually provided `with teeth or other filling engaging means, should be yieldingly heldto insure that the filling engaging end ofthe feeler shall sink into the lfilling to prevent side slipping movement off the feeler as the lay moves frontwardly; Owing to the different kinds of `filling that may be used in connection with the same feeler mechanism, or the different speeds at whichthe loom maybe run7 variation becomes necessary inthe means for holding the feeler inits feeling position to insure that the end of the feeler may sink into and be held from side slipping movement by a working supply of filling. n

The feeling position of the feeler itself likewise becomes an important factor in sensitizingthc feeler both to the presence and substantial absence of fi1ling.

Oneof the objects .of the present invention is to provide Vafeeler mechanism'of the side Y slipping type with means for insuring vthe proper position of the feeler when in feeling position and spring tension varying means that may enablethe feelor to be held with varying spring tension in feeler'position suitable to the particular kind of filling infuse or the speed of the loom. j

In'certain respects the feeler `mechanism of the present inventionis a Vfurther develop-v ment of that shown and vdescribed in the qarry A'. Davis Patent, No. 1,670,283May l5, 1928, and as exemplified in the Davis patent, the set of the feeler when in feeling position should be accomplished while the loom and feeler continue in operation, so thatv during the adjustment Y of the feeler and the spring connected thereto the action of the feeler may: be observed and changed while the loom continues to run. f

The inventionand novel` features thereof will best be made clear from the following f description and the accompanying drawings of one good form thereof,

In the drawings: Y Y

Fig. 1 is a planview of a feeler mechanism containing the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line .2*2 of Fig. l g Fig. 3 is a sect-ion on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; lgig. 4: is arsectionon the line 4h41. of Fig. 1'; an Y v Fig. 5 is a detached plan view of a pin and eccentric for determining trie lateral feeling Vposition of the feeler.

The feeler mechanism of the present invention is primarily intended to be associated with filling replenishing mechanism, in order to call for a change of filling ,when that in the shuttle has become substantially exhausted, butV since the details ofthe replenishing mechanism are not essential to the feeler operation and are now well understoodin the art, an

illustration and description thereof is unnecessary. Y Y

In the drawings the feeler stand comprises a base member 1 and a cover member Q-which may be secured in fixedposition on the loom frame by any appropriate usual means', such, for instance, as more fully. described in the Davis patent. j Between the base and cover portions of the feeler stand the feeler member 8 is mounted for movement towards and-from the front of the loom and also in a direction longitudinelly of the shuttle. As shown, the'fceler member 8 has its rear end portion provided ent instance,cisin the form of a spring or coil of wire 1i, the coils of which are adapted tosinkr'into aworking-supply of filling on a if with a roughened` surface which, in the pres- VAX u.,

detecting beat and prevent side slipping movement of the feeler.

Extending through an opening 5 in the feeler stand a transmitter 6 between the train of mechanism for effecting replenishment of filling and the feeler member 3, the construction being such that should the feeler side slip on a detecting beat, the transmitter 6 Will be moved lencitudinally to initiate replenishment of filling.

The feeler member 3 has a laterally extending` arm 7, the end portion 8 of which is adapted to rest against a stop bearing 9 on the feeler stand When the feeler is in its rearward feeling position.

The feeler member 3 is normally under the c ontrol of a spring tending to hold the feeler in its rearward feeling position, and, as shown, the described spring, as indicated at 10, has one end thereof secured to the laterally extending arm 7 at 11, while the other end of the spring at 12 is connected to a spring tensioning member mounted on the feeler stand, the purpose of which is to vary the spring tension in accordance with the character of filling in use or the speed of the loom, to insure that the filling engaging end of the feeler will properly cooperate With the filling in the shuttle and be held from side slipping movement thereby.

As more clearly indicated in Fig. 4, the spring tensioning member comprises a slide 13 extending through a bearing 14 at the front of the feeler stand, and at its rear portion the slide 13 has a lug or projection 15 to which the rear end of the spring 1() is connected. The spring tensioning member or slide 18 has its frontn'ardly extending stem 16 threaded, and means are provided for moving the slide rearwardly or frontwardly, as the case may be, to vary the tension of the spring in accordance with the conditions of the filling and loom speed.

As shown, the feeler stand has an arm 17 at its front portion through which the stem 16 of the feeler member extends. The arm 17 is bifurcated, as shown, to provide an opening i8 to receive a thumb nnt 19 threaded to the feeler stein, the construction being such that upon rotation of the thumb nut 19 the tensioning member or slide 13 may be moved towards or from the rear of the loom thereby varying the tension of the spring While the loom and feeler continue in operation.

The thumb nut 19 being located at a fixed point and threaded to the stem of the tensioning member, may be manipulated to change the tension of the spring 10, while both the loom and feeler remain in action, With the result that the loom attendant may observe the action of the feeler upon the lilling in the shuttle and be guided thereby in the adjustment of the spring tension.

Different kinds of filling will require different tensioning effect of the spring 10 upon the feeler to insure that the filling engaging end of the feeler may engage the filling With holding e'l'ect, and the same characteristic action may be present Where, with the same filling in the shuttle, the speed of the loom itself is changed.

`When the loom attendant has adjusted the spring 10 by or through the tensioning member or slide 13 and has observed that the spring tension is suitable both to the filling in use and the speed of the loom, he may secure the spring tensioning member in its adj usted posit-ion by a set nut 2O threaded to the stem 16 of the tensioning member. Thus, While the loom and feeler mechanism continue to operate, the tension of the spring may be varied to suit the kind or character of filling in the shuttle and the speed of the loom, to insure that the filling engaging end of the feeler shall Contact With the filling with holding effect to prevent side slipping movement of the feeler When a Working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat.

As Will be observed'from Fig. 4, the lug' or projection extending upwardly from the spring tensioning member rides alongr the under surface of the cover 2 of the feeler stand, thereby obviating all liability of the rear end of the spring becoming detached. ln the construction shown, the end of the projection or pin 15 rides in a groove or guide- Way 21 formed in the under surface of the cover plate 2. l

The other factor which contributes to the sensitiveness of the feeler to either the presence or substantial absence of filling is dependent upon the lateral position of the feeler When it is in its rearward feeling position, and such lateral position Twhich, in accordance With the present invention, may be varied, should be observable and noted during the operation of the loom and feeler mechanism` so that proper adjustment of the feeler to its feeling position may be made based upon th loom attendants observation of the feeler action.

lnthe present instance of the invention, a pin 22 extends through the cover plate 2 of the feeler stand and has a bearing in the base portion 1, as indicated in Fig. 3, and an eccentric 23 is connected to the pin 22 and constitutes a variable stop for the lateral position of the feeler member 3. The upper end of the pin 22 is provided with a groove 24 to receive an instrument for turning it to properly position the eccentric and feeler member When the set nut 25 is released.

Since the feeler member 3 rests against the surface of the eccentric during its movement towards and from the front of the loom, it is evident that the position of the eccentric Will determine the pathof movement of the feeler member.

iii

5" be varied while the loom and teeler mechanism continue in operation, so Vthat theloom attendantfmay observe the conditions and make proper changes to meet the desired ends. In the present instance of .the invention, the cover plate 2 is provided with an opening 26 through which the position of the eeler and the transmitterk 6 may be observed, although this may not always be necessary.

rlhe teeler stand may be secured to its sup- 5 port by a bolt 27, and the cover plate and base of the eeler stand may be held together by a screw or other means 28. In Fig. 1, the shuttle 29 is shown as of the usual filling changing type and is provided with the bobbin holding jaws 30 for vdetach'ably holding the bobbin or lilling carrier on which the tilling 51 is wound, and, as usual in this type of shuttle, the front wail thereof is provided with an opening- 32 which registers with a` corresponding opening in the front wall of the shuttle box, as usual, to permit the entrance of the feeler member to feel for the iilling.

IVhen a working supply of illing is in the shuttle, as indicated in F ig. l, thel filling engaging end oi" the feeler under the adjusting tension of the spring l0 will engage the filling with holding effect and prevent side slipping movement 0In the feeler, but when the illing is substantially exhausted, the `feeler will sideY slip and call for a change of filling.

V'Vhat is claimed is l. In a feeler mechanism Jfor looms, the combination `of a feeler stand, a side slipping iieeler mounted for movement towards and from the iront of the loom, a spring normally acting upon the eeler to hold it in rearward feeling position, a spring tensioning yslide mounted to.' movement towards and from the liront of the loom and connected to the spring, and means for moving the slide towards and from the front of the loom for varying the resistance oi the spring to rontward movement of the eeler by the lling while the loom continues to Vrun and the teeler4 continues in action that the feeler action upon the illing may be observed and changed lduring the loom and iieeler operations. Y

2. In a eeler mechanism Viiorlooms, the combination of a feeler stand, a side slipping ieeler mounted. for movement towards and from the front of the loom, a pull spring normally acting upon the eeler to hold itin rearward feeling position, a spring tensioning slide mounted upon the feeler stand for 1 Vmanual movement towards and from the il and the consequent resistance of the spring to eeler movement while the loom and feeler continue to operate that the ieeler action upon the filling may be observed and changed while the loom continues to run.

3. In a feeler mechanism 'for looms, the

combination of a-feeler stand, a side slipping v feeler having a laterally extending arm, a stop onthe feeler stand engaged by said arm when the feeler is in rearward Jfeeling position, a spring having one end connected to theV eeler, a spring tensioning slide connected to the feeler stand and having a lug to which the other end of the spring is connected, and means accessible and operable to move the slide and vary the spring stress upon the iiee'ler while the loom and i'eeler continue in operation.

4f. In a eeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, a side slipping eeler having a laterally ext-ending arm, a

Vstop on the ieeler stand engaged by said arm when the ieeler is in rearward feeling position, a spring having one end connected to the eeler, a spring tensioning slide connected to the Jeeler stand and having a lug to which the other end of the spring is connected, and means at the iront ot the iieeler stand acces-- sible and operable tomove the slide and vary the spring stress upon the feeler while the loom and teeler continue in operation. y

5. In a i'eeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, a side slipping eeler lmounted for movement towards and from the liront oi the loom, a spring having its front end connected to the eeler, a spring tensioning slide mounted for manual movement towards and from the liront of the loom and connected to the rear end of the spring, and means manually operable during the loom operation to move the Vslide and thus vary the action olf the spring that the eeler action upon the filling may be observed and changed while the loom and feeler continue in operation.

6. In a eeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a iieeler stand, a side slipping Y `eeler mounted *for movement towards and from 4the front of the. loom, a spring having ,Y

its front endconnected to the feeler, a spring tensioning slide mounted :for manual movement towards and from the front of the loom, aV lug at the rear part of the slide 'to which the rear end ot the spring is connected, and means manuallyV movable during the loom operation to changethe position of the tensioning slide and consequently the action of the spring upon the eeler while the loom and feeler continue in operation.V c Y In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

- HARRY A. DAVIS. 

